A Strange Pilgrim's Journey [[Open]]

[nidhug]

Nidhug chuckled gently, lightly wiping a bit of blood off of Ande's chin before dropping his hand, looking to the path that lay before them. There was still a way to go, but Nidhug had a feeling the journey would be a bit easier now that Ande had something to think about other than the cold.

"You're Dragonborn too?" Nidhug asked, looking surprised. This was most fortunate indeed. Perhaps he could sway Ande over to his side. If he was in it for information, then perhaps he could be convinced to follow Alduin...

"One could say I am here about Alduin," Nidhug stated, looking off to the sky.

[Ande]

Ande touched his face after Nidhug wiped at it, wondering if he'd missed anything else. Not that he could actually feel any difference in this cold, "I am. Strange as it may be, since I am Altmer," he chuckled a little, enjoying that he could speak freely without hateful looks. The Altmer moved forward to continue up the mountain, feeling refreshed from the restoration spell and the new knowledge of his companion. Perhaps they could be friends...

"It seems everyone is here for Alduin. It's become the only reason people visit High Hrothgar recently."

[nidhug]

Nidhug smiled lightly. "To be a Dragonborn does not depend upon race. It is a state of being, independent of other factors."

Of course, Nidhug had been taught that the Dragonborn was not meant to work against Alduin, but with him. They had not been given the power of the Thu'um to defeat Dragons, but to use it to destroy those who would stand in the way of the next world.

"I can understand why. So many wish for answers to deal with problems they do not understand," Nidhug commented as he began to walk along the path once more.

[Ande]

It had never even crossed his mind that Nidhug might be supporting Alduin. He'd never heard of any active cult that was supporting Alduin. Of course, that was the power of cults in secret.

"I suppose so," he admitted, mulling the comment over in his head. Actually the problem seemed pretty simple; If Alduin had his way, they were all going to die. That sounded pretty simple. What in the world wasn't there to understand about dying? But maybe that wasn't what Nidhug was talking about... Or maybe not?

"If we are speaking of the end of this world though, I see nothing complicated about it."

[nidhug]

Nidhug hummed softly, mulling over the elf's comment.

"Is it the end? Or a new beginning? A rebirth of this world, cleansed by fire..." Nidhug mused, looking off into the sky above, thinking of all the things he had been taught throughout his childhood about Alduin and how he was the cleansing destructive aspect of Akatosh, not a thing to fear or detest. The Dragon Cults did not fear the end, as many did, for they did not see it as the end but rather as a new beginning.

[Ande]

"New worlds come at their own pace. This one we are in now did not exist years ago. This age of civil war is a new world, and this age of dragons is a new world," Ande replied almost automatically, in a way that suggested he had thought over this matter many times on his own. The Altmer did not believe in Gods, he believed in what affected him. A huge, powerful dragon was not a God to the elf, but a being using force for its own desires. If that force was harming him, he was obliged to stop it.

[nidhug]

Nidhug snorted lightly.

"I do not like this world of Civil War. It has already cost me too much and I am not on either side of the war... those damned Stormcloaks think that they can do as they wish, kill whoever they don't agree with," Nidhug said, his voice low and dangerous.

Supporting Alduin would be Nidhug's way of getting his revenge as well as helping to usher in a new world without the problems and wars of this one. It wouldn't bring his son back, but at least he would have the comfort of knowing his young life had been avenged...

[Ande]

Ande was silent at that. It was not his place to judge the weight of a life, especially the worth of whatever life was lost to Nidhug. But that did not change his own opinion about this world. Just as it was not his right to judge, it was not anyone's right to take by force. Alduin would be taking this world by force, and the mage had investments in this world, emotional and otherwise.

"I am sorry you have suffered. I can offer no excuse or defense for what is happening in Skyrim because it would be speaking for others. I can only speak for myself." he looked side long at the Nord, starting to see him in a new light. And that light was dark and spiteful.

[nidhug]

The Nord just continued to walk, ignoring the Elf. He needed to keep his mind calm and clear. He did not need to become enraged by what the elf was saying. It was becoming clear that perhaps he could not be swayed to Alduin's cause. Which was a shame, Nidhug had actually started to like the High Elf. However, he couldn't afford to get close to someone who would not help him reach the goals Alduin set down for him.

Approaching the steps to High Hrothgar, Nidhug paused, gripping his cloak to pull it off, revealing fully the Dragon Priest armor he wore as well as the large tattoo representing both Alduin and Akatosh over his back. Glancing backwards at Ande, he smiled snakeishly.

"I'll give you the option to leave now, Ande. Your company has been most pleasant, but I'm afraid that my business here is not as pleasant as I've made it out to be," Nidhug stated, giving his words a moment to sink into Ande's mind.

[Ande]

Ande had tensed at the sudden, dramatic movement, eyes widening on Nidhug in surprise and some shock. But his expression softened to sadness, having already understood where their conversation had been going. They weren't going to be friends.

His lips pressed together as he stared at Nidhug, disappointment crossing his features before he smoothed his expression out, "I am sorry to hear that," he walked around Nidhug, a purple glow wreathing his right hand as he prepared to conjure a sword, "I had hoped we could be friends."

He took his place between Nidhug and High Hrothgar, one foot up on the stairs behind him. The elf could say any number of things right now; that he loved the Graybeards and would not let them come to harm, that he was against Alduin, that he wouldn't let Nidhug pass. But the truth was that nothing he said would make any difference; the position he was taking spoke all the words he could ever say right now.

[nidhug]

"We've our differences, my brother, and it's obvious that they cannot be reconciled. Don't hold back," Nidhug stated with a soft smile, drawing his great sword from the ring that kept it on his back. Holding it loosely in one hand for the moment, he looked up at Ande almost lazily.

"My Lord Alduin tasked me with a simple mission... to find the other Dovahkiin. They will submit or they will fall, there is no room for a middle ground. This world needs to be cleansed, so if you stand in Alduin's way you must die," Nidhug stated, readying a lightning spell in his free hand. "However, Alduin and I are not without mercy, I will give you a chance to submit."

The Nord stood, watching Ande, part of him knowing that he would not submit and somewhat regretting that he would have to fight him. He had been very pleasant company, especially since Nidhug had recently lost everyone he had ever known to the Stormcloaks. To have found someone pleasant to speak to had been very pleasant. But... he was not here to make friends, he was here to further Alduin's cause...

[Ande]

The Altmer conjured a sword but did not raise it, the other hand preparing a ward to lead into the fight, "I do not want to fight you. You don't have to do this. Please," his expression remained almost depressingly sober, lips pressed together in regret. But it looked like Nidhug wouldn't budge, and Ande wouldn't budge either,

"If I submit to you, will you still do harm to the Graybeards?" he asked, voice quiet. He was not expecting Nidhug to relinquish his mission on the Graybeards just for him. And he was also forming a steady feeling of dread since Nidhug mentioned the other dragon born would be met with the same 'Convert or die' speech. But Ande couldn't agree with Alduin's way of doing things, he had hope for this world, even if it was broken. He couldn't just make that decision to end the world when it wasn't his decision to make.

[nidhug]

Nidhug lazily looked at Ande, rolling his shoulder back to loosen it up. This would be a most interesting fight, perhaps he would even spare Ande if the Elf fought well enough. Even if Ande survived the battle, he would still have to face judgement at the feet of Alduin one day or another, at least in Nidhug's worldview.

"The Greybeards have nothing to fear from me if they give me the information I seek," Nidhug stated, smiling lightly. "My true business is with their Grandmaster... Vokunulov, I believe... He knows much of what I need to know. I've no instruction to destroy him, Alduin wishes to deal with that dragon personally."

[Ande]

Ande experienced some conflict, but a moment of thought eliminated it. Nidhug didn't appear to be here to harm anyone, only anyone who did not comply. But he also knew that the Graybeards wouldn't comply, which would only mean Nidhug would try to eliminate them or cause harm to force an answer out of them. He couldn't stand by and let that happen, not when he could stop him. Or at least stall him.

His expression remained saddened but hard, "You still have a choice not to do this." he offered again, even as he lowered his stance a bit to ground himself better.

The Altmer took in a slow breath and exhaled, flexing both shoulders back slightly and tensing them before relaxing in preperation for what was to come.

[nidhug]

"Unfortunately, I made my choice long ago," Nidhug stated.

He sighed softly in sadness. Part of him had really hoped to change Ande's mind, to bring him over to his view of things. But, unfortunately the elf seemed he would not be swayed. So, without further discussion, Nidhug let the Lightning Bolt spell he had charged fly at Ande, taking a few paces back as he did so to try and keep out of the High Elf's range. He wanted to deplete as much of the Elf's magicka as he could so that he could not retaliate against him magically. That seemed to be the key to this fight, to keep Ande's magicka levels low. And if Nidhug's magic failed him, he had the Greatsword.

The Dragon Cult had been adamant on their members learning the martial arts, for if they had ever been found they were expected to put up a good fight to try and preserve their way of life. But even with their training, the Stormcloaks had managed to decimate the Cult due to shear numbers.